Sleep Positions, Sleep Apnea and CPAP Masks
While we all have our favorite sleep position, the different positions can impact sleep apnea therapy. Fortunately, a proper-fitting CPAP mask can help maintain consistent CPAP compliance while letting you sleep your way.
What Do Your Sleep Positions Mean?
In addition to using a CPAP machine for sleep apnea therapy, there are also other ways to improve your symptoms that can have a huge impact on your life. For example, your sleep position says a lot about your health. Changing your sleep position could help reduce snoring and improve symptoms of sleep apnea. Read how different positions can affect you in different ways.
Side Sleepers
This is the preferred way to sleep if you have sleep apnea. That's because sleeping on your side helps reduce snoring, can be helpful for your digestion system, and has several other benefits.
Sleeping on your left side will ease some of your symptoms, including alleviating conditions such as acid reflux which could possibly cause apneas.
Sleeping on your right side is a good way to help calm your sleep apnea. It also reduces snoring and encourages blood flow.
Stomach Sleepers
Sleeping on your stomach is the most ideal for sleep apnea patients and chronic snorers. You are less likely to snore because gravity pulls down on the tongue and soft tissues, which opens up the airway. However, it can put a strain on the back muscles and spine.
Back Sleepers
Sleeping on your back is the least preferred position. In this position, the tongue and soft tissue relax and fall back to obstruct the airway. However, sleeping on your back is helpful for some people with glaucoma and sensitive skin.
What Are the Best Sleep Positions for Sleep Apnea Patients?
If you are a back sleeper, changing up your sleeping position can be a great benefit to your health. For example, sleeping on your side helps with heartburn, and sleeping on your stomach can help with snoring. These are the most ideal sleeping positions for sleep apnea. If you don’t like side-sleeping, you may want to try stomach sleeping. This position also helps reduce pressure on soft throat tissues and helps keep your airway open.
What Positions Can Make Sleep Apnea Worse?
The worst position to sleep is on your back, so avoid this to try to get a better night's sleep. This position allows the tongue and soft tissues to easily fall back and close the airway. Your snoring also gets worse when you sleep on your back.
What Positions Can You Sleep in While Wearing A CPAP Mask?
CPAP mask designs can help sleep apnea patients sleep in virtually any position. Most CPAP masks can adapt to active sleepers who change positions frequently. While ideal sleeping positions can help with sleep apnea, PAP therapy with a properly fitting mask offers more flexibility while ensuring CPAP compliance.
What are The Different Types of CPAP Masks?
Choosing a comfortable CPAP mask is a personal preference. There are three different types of CPAP masks. Learn more about CPAP mask types. Try different masks to find one that works for you.
Full face masks provide a comfortable solution for people who breathe with their mouths. They are lightweight while having a clear field of vision.
Nasal CPAP masks are effective for patients suffering from claustrophobia. This is because the nasal masks are more open compared to a full-face mask. Nasal masks for CPAP are very popular styles due to their low-touch wearability and open view. Additionally, the wide range of fits and sizes makes it an easy task to find a perfect nasal mask for your face.
With minimal facial contact, nasal pillow masks provide a clear field of view and allow those who wear glasses to wear their mask comfortably. Due to their minimal design, the nasal pillow CPAP masks are lightweight and comfortable making them a popular choice for CPAP users.
How to Find the Most Comfortable CPAP Mask
Understanding your personal preference can make it easier to find a CPAP mask that’s most comfortable for you. Do you wear glasses during PAP therapy? Are you claustrophobic? What’s your favorite sleeping position? These and other factors are good to know when choosing a CPAP mask.
CPAP Masks for Side Sleepers
When you sleep on your side, you increase the risk of a mask leak. Nasal masks are ideal for side sleepers as they fit snugly and securely even while sleeping on your side. See some of the best nasal masks of 2021.
CPAP Masks for Stomach Sleepers
Stomach sleepers may also experience mask leaks as their downward position puts more pressure on the mask fit. Nasal pillows or nasal masks are the best solutions.
CPAP Masks for Back Sleepers
While sleeping on your back is the worst position for sleep apnea, reliable CPAP masks can give you the peace of mind to let you sleep the way you want. Full face masks provide both the comfort and a secure seal you need for CPAP compliance while back sleeping. See the best full face masks of 2021.
Where Can I Find the Best CPAP Masks?
Find a full selection of CPAP masks at The CPAP Shop. Our staff is ready to assist you with your online purchase. We provide free shipping on orders over $99 and offer a full refund if you are not satisfied.
